Moving into a furnished apartment in Dubai has one major advantage – there is no need to wait for deliveries to arrive and for furniture to be assembled, simply move in and settle down. However, furnished properties have one nasty potential downside that bare units simply do not – the possibility of encountering bed bugs. This tiny insect can hide in practically any piece of furniture including the mattress, sofas, curtains and even the wardrobes and can survive for up to a few months without feeding.
Luckily, bed bugs are preventable, both prior to and after your move. The following guide contains some crucial top tips on what to look out for when visiting the property before you move in and how to avoid encountering them upon arrival.
Why Furnished Apartments are More Likely to have Bed Bugs?
Dubai has an extremely high turnover of tenants and tourists in both furnished and unfurnished apartments and properties. Bed bugs are intelligent parasites which seek out fabric or any other crevice they can hide in, regardless of whether it is in a luxury property or a budget studio. This is why particularly high turnover furnished apartments and holiday homes are more likely to be the cause of an infestation, so it is important that you double check any space you are considering prior to your move. What to look out for when viewing a Furnished Apartment in advance. When possible, try to view a property in advance of moving in and check:
- bed seams and piping for small dark spots or tiny white eggs
- bed frame joins and headboards
- seams and cushions of the sofa – check zips
- behind curtains, rugs and wall art
- skirting boards and power points around the bed
- A musty or sweet smell in the bedroom can also be an indicator
How to prevent encountering Bed Bugs?
Even if you have viewed the property and are happy, it is important to protect your clothing and bedding on arrival. Some tips include:
- keeping suitcases off the bed and floor until you check the room – a table is preferable
- washing and drying your own bedding – even if it is supplied in the apartment.
- using a mattress and pillow protector – these are often available for purchase at local pharmacies and can protect both you and any future tenants from infestations
- looking out for bed bugs in any furniture after the initial dust settles.
- vacuuming thoroughly, paying particular attention to seams and cracks in furniture as well as skirting boards. Always throw the vacuum bag away outside of the apartment complex.
What to do if you encounter Bed Bugs upon arrival?
If you suspect or discover that you have bed bugs in your new apartment, don’t panic. However, it is important to act quickly in order to protect yourself, your belongings and future tenants. Here are some tips:
- try to isolate any infested items – sealing them in bin bags will help you to stop the problem from spreading
- don’t move furniture between rooms – this is one of the biggest causes of infestations in apartments
- take pictures of the affected areas – this may save you time and hassle later when communicating with landlords or management
- avoid treating the bugs with sprays – while these will often kill visible bugs, they rarely reach eggs hidden in crevices, which will simply hatch later and re-infest the property
- organize a professional inspection as soon as possible rather than waiting for the problem to ‘go away’ – this will save both time and money in the long run
Top Tips for Preventing Bed Bugs after you have moved in
Preventing bed bugs does not stop once you have settled into your new apartment. The following top tips may help to minimize the chance of an infestation:
- clearing any clutter from under the bed or in wardrobes and check any second hand or rented furniture before use
- if you are a frequent UK domestic tourist, try to check your bags after each visit to a hotel
- vacuuming your bedroom and any other rooms weekly
When to call a professional Bed Bug Exterminator?
While DIY sprays are often effective at killing visible bugs, they often don’t reach eggs hidden in crevices or cracks in buildings and furniture, meaning re-infestation is very likely. If you have noticed small bites appearing on your skin, dark spots on your bedsheets or any bugs at all in your apartment, it is time to call a professional. This is where professional Bed bug pest control in Dubai becomes invaluable. Our licensed team will take a look at your property in its entirety in order to spot any bugs or areas they may be hiding in. We provide comprehensive treatments that not only kill any bugs they can see, but target cracks and crevices where bugs of all ages like to hide. Our team double check every infested property to make sure that the bugs are truly gone.
We are proud to offer a reliable, professional Bed bugs pest control Dubai service to residents across the city including Discovery Gardens, Silicon Oasis, Business Bay, Al Qusais and JLT. As one of the best pest control in Dubai for residential move in inspections, we offer full inspection and treatment alongside expert advice for continued protection so residents can enjoy total peace of mind. We are an approved provider by Dubai Municipality for comprehensive eco-friendly treatments for bed bugs in furnished apartments across Dubai.